Employers advertised 169,000 more jobs in August than they did in July, according to a report by the Conference Board.

Since April 2009, online advertised vacancies have increased by 300,000. The increase in August included strong gains in several of the largest states.

"The August increase is good news showing what we hope will be a continued improvement in job demand this fall," said Gad Levanon, senior economist at The Conference Board.

In the South, online advertised vacancies rose by 60,800 in August. Texas posted the largest August increase (up 21,900 to 240,500). Florida rose 15,700 in August to 181,400.

In the Northeast, New York showed the largest increase, up 11,100 to 228,500 in August and has shown a modest upward trend with advertised vacancies (up 40,900 over the last five months). Pennsylvania rose 9,200 to 133,900, and New Jersey was up 9,100 to 127,100. Massachusetts increased by 7,500.

Online advertised vacancies in Californi arose 26,700 to 387,300 in August. Arizona and Colorado rose 2,800 and 2,400 respectively.

"In the West, the good news is that after a long period of decline, job demand has stabilized in several of the large states," said Levanon.

Several states in the Midwest have shifted in the last few months from downward trends to flat, including Illinois, which rose 7,600 to 126,900 in August. Ohio increased 6,700 to 107,000 and Missouri was up 1,700 to 63,300. Other Midwestern states with August increases included Wisconsin, up 6,200, Michigan, up 4,600, and Minnesota, up 4,500.